Karbon Homes

COMMENT

Improving energy efficiency with modern methods of construction

Steve Riding, Development Contracts Manager, Karbon Homes

Housing providers across the country are under increasing pressure to build more new homes, faster. Paired with the desire to build greener homes to lower the level of carbon emissions produced by housing, and the efforts to support customers facing rising energy costs, housing associations are looking for modern methods of construction that ensure their new-build homes tick all the boxes.

We completed our first development using insulated concrete formwork, or ICF, an MMC technology which helps meet the demands for faster, more energy efficient construction.

We used ICF in the construction of 36 homes in the village of Greatham near Hartlepool. The technique sees hollow, interlocking blocks of thermal insulation dry stacked and filled with reinforced concrete.

ICF has been growing in the UK construction industry for a number of years now. The method is favoured by many because of its fast build speed, but one of its main benefits is the energy efficiency of the finished homes.

This is what really drew us to it. With ICF walls, our residents could get up to 50% in energy savings, as the polystyrene formwork used to contain the concrete stays in place permanently – giving instant double thickness of insulation that’s airtight.

At a time when rising energy prices are pushing more households into fuel poverty, it’s a no-brainer for housing providers to be exploring these alternative construction methods. With ICF we’re providing our customers with homes that are affordable in more ways than one.

An additional bonus of ICF is the freedom you have when it comes to the finish of the homes. The development is located in a historic, picturesque village and it was important to us that the homes blended in with the character of the village. We added a traditional looking exterior, with a conventional brick and render finish, to match the other houses nearby.

Our specialist contractors completed the ICF construction and we were really impressed with the whole process. The pandemic did cause some delays, but thanks to this method we were able to deliver the development as we set out to do.

Residents have been moving into the homes throughout the autumn and we’re looking forward to seeing what impact the energy efficiency will have on them.

“With ICF walls, our residents could get up to 50% in energy savings, as the polystyrene formwork used to contain the concrete stays in place permanently – giving instant double thickness of insulation that’s airtight”